News article on Chase Shealy's suspension w/USATF comments.

[Carolina Extreme]

I thought this article could be of benefit to the many up and coming athletes on this site, as well as parents and coaches. You just don't know what you don't know, so be careful out there. If in doubt, or if you just don't know....Call the USADA Drug Hotline to see if you can take something at 1-800-233-0393. Don't rely on the USADA Pocket Card. Your medication may not be on it, but you may find out the hard way that it contains Amphetamine or some other banned substance. Call to be safe!

Posted on Sun, Jul. 25, 2004

I M A G E S A N D R E L A T E D C O N T E N T
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/9237613.htm

A bitter pill for teen athlete

Pole vaulter suspended for taking medication

By EVAN WOODBERY

Staff Writer


Until his cell phone chimed that day last summer, things were perfect for Chase Shealy.

He had finished his high school career with a state championship in the pole vault.

He was a few days away from boarding a plane to Barbados to compete in the Pan Am Games with the U.S. Junior World Team.

As Chase and his dad, Rusty, ate lunch at a restaurant in Athens, Ga., they had plenty to talk about: the trip to Barbados, his college future and his second-place finish in the USA Outdoor Championships at Palo Alto, Calif.

Then the cell phone sounded.

Chase was put on speaker phone with attorneys and administrators from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Their message was abrupt: Forget about Barbados.

“They just asked me not to get on the plane, not to show up to the airport,â€Â

[vaultmom]

We met Chase a few years ago at a meet when he was a sophomore and thought he was a nice boy with a bright future. You cannot let these things get in the way of your ultimate goal. People do forget. It won't be long and someone else will be in the news... My personal view is that the high school associations are going to have to do a better job about teaching rules about banned substances . Its too bad when you are afraid to even take an aspirin before a meet ! Best wishes to you Chase.